It’s been at least a year since 25,000 Montrealers forced a public consultation to be held on urban agriculture. This is a hot issue and is becoming a greater part of world consciousness: sustainable development and local consumption.

The contest to redevelop the Quartier Latin proposed by the City of Montreal was an opportunity to go further than just reorganize the thoroughfares. It was more to ask the question, What image does Montreal want to have over the next few years?

Themes

Far from being utopic, this project fits within the vision that a lot of Montrealers have of their city. To dare take on such a project in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, an area for shows and events, allows Montreal to once again position itself as a forward-thinking city that develops its own expertise and becomes a world leader in new urban usages.

The first established assessment is that the proliferation of surfaced parking lots was implemented in an archaic fashion in every possible space in the urban fabric. Its visual pollution is a disservice to the neighbourhood’s image. This is why we propose creating permanent underground parking for events in the neighbourhood because of the constant traffic, not to mention considerable revenue for the city.

Funds received would be reinvested in surface thereby creating public spaces and supporting neighbourhood life. Diverse summer and winter activities could support neighbourhood life and many festivals.

Last year, the City of Montreal lost about 20,000 inhabitants to the benefit of other cities. This exodus of young families to the suburbs can be understood as the paradigm of single-family homes is still considered attractive.

By definition, the city requires that a form of social compromise must be established. Thus, we propose to benefit from the voluntary association of individuals in the communities to improve the fundamental aspects of life: food, transportation, home, work, garden, consumption…

Major thoroughfares that go around the neighbourhood would mean that some streets would be reserved for pedestrians and the widening of bike paths would make them busier.

We suggest tearing down the old bus station and replacing it with a cultural centre – a place for inhabitants of the Latin Quartier to enjoy social gatherings. Vacant space between this future establishment and the underground parking would be host to an area for people to indulge in food and mobile kitchens to show off the local gastronomy.

Needless to say, the addition of these value-added spaces – gardens, green views, play spaces, offices – must not greatly increase prices. That’s why implementation of these living spaces in the heart of the Quartier Latin and the Quartier des spectacles should allow for underground parking that will generate profit in order to reduce the cost of buying a house. Finally, we believe that the city must be thought out and shaped by its inhabitants who are concerned with sustainable development. In this way, families will rediscover the joy of living in the heart of their metropolis.